Gondola loading device



W. D. HEEREN GONDOLA LOADING DEVICE Jan. 23, 1968 2 Sheet srSheet 1 Filed June 20, 1966 INVENTOR. h/d/fsr a fi eeren Jan. 23, 1968 w, HEEREN 3,365,043

GONDOLA LOADING DEVICE Filed June 20, 1966 ZSheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,365,043 GONDOLA LOADING DEVICE Walter D. Heeren, Rte. 3, Dell Rapids, S. Dak. 57022 Filed June 20, 1966, Ser. No. 558,937 3 Claims. (Cl. 1933) My invention relates to a gondola loading device, or a device for loading other units from elevators and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a loading device whereby the contents of the elevator can be conveniently emptied into openings of railroad cars of the gondola type, or other vehicles, and wherein the discharge spout for the unloading operation can be conveniently moved longitudinally as Well as laterally by the operator with a minimum of time and effort being expended.

A further object of my invention is to provide such an arrangement wherein the arrangement can be operated electrically or mechanically.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the lower end of the said discharge spout will be automatically positioned at pre-selected locations by means of simple controls and the like.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a forward elevation of my device as attached to a grain elevator showing its position when filling a gondola,

FIGURE 2 is a side view of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional detail,

FIGURE 4 is a reduced scale sectional view of FIG- URE 3 taken along the line 44 thereof,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail of the jointed spout entrance unit,

FIGURE 6 is a detail of the raising winch and movable lower section,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 8 is a modification.

My invention contemplates the provision of an arrange ment wherein a gondola or other car, etc., can be filled from a grain elevator and with attendant means for placing the lower end of a discharge spout wherever desired and by means of simple manipulations.

In describing my invention I have used the character 10 to designate the forward wall of a grain elevator from which the grain is to be removed to fill the gondola, which is indicated by the character 11, such gondola or car having the various openings 12 which are longitudinally as well as laterally spaced as shown.

The character 13 indicates the car wheels, the character 14 the tracks and the character 15 indicates the side walls of the grain elevator.

The character 16 indicates an upper hollow elbow attached by means of the flange 17 to the wall 10 through which elbow the grain will pass, and the elbow 16 includes the downwardly projecting portion 18 through which are received the pins 19 which also pass through the walls of a further spout portion 20 and passing through the walls 20 are the further pins 21 which are secured to the further walls 22 which walls 22 extend into the lengthened discharge spout 23 which is received within the lower spout portion 24.

The character 25 indicates a reeling mechanism operated by means of the handle 26, the character 27 indicating a suitable ratchet, the reel being secured at 28 to 3,365,043 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 the lower pipe section 24, and passing over the reel 25 is the cable 29 which is secured at 30 to the upper section 23. The character 31 indicates a bar or rod which is pivotally attached at 32 to a collar 33 which collar is securely attached to the spout section 23, and the connection at 32 is made loose enough to permit movement in any direction, and the rod 31 is connected to a suitable universal joint at 34 which is attached to the post or rod 35 which is attached at 36 to the bar 37 which extends into the portions 38, upon which portions 38 are suitably journalled the rollers 39. The rollers 39 are received within the channel member 40 which is securely attached to the wall 10 of the grain elevator, the channel member 40 including the side walls 41 and further walls 42 and 43 It will be noted (see FIGURE 7) that there are two of such rods 31 as well as the attendant joints 32 etc., and being attached to these carriage frameworks including the rollers 39 above described. Attached at 44 (see FIG- URE 2) at either side of one rod 35 is a cable 45 which is wrapped around a pulley 46 which is driven by means of an electric motor 47 which cable thence passes about a further pulley 48 in a similar manner and thence passes to the post 35 as above described, and similarly attached to the other post 35 at 44 is a further cable 49 which passes about a further pulley 50 in a similar manner which is driven by means of an electric motor 51, the

cable 49 passing about the further pulley 52, the character 53 indicating suitable brackets for supporting the motors, etc. The motors 47 and 51 are reversible.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a modification whereby the same cables can be operated by means of the winches 54 and 55 having the handles 56, this arrangement pertaining to a mechanical arrangement for performing the necessary operations instead of the electrical arrangement. The arrangement operates in the following manner:

The unit can be operated by means of the electric motors above described with suitable switches or contacts for the same, or can be operated mechanically through the arrangement shown in FIGURE 8 although the electrical operation may be the preferred type.

If desired, a platform 57 which can be pivotally mounted at 58 to the wall 10 of the elevator can be employed, which platform normally can be supported vertically by the means of the member 59 and when the arrangement is used, the platform will lie upon the top of the gondola 11 as shown by the solid lines upon which the operator can stand for manipulating the switches to the motors etc.

For moving the combined spout members 23 and 24 in either direction of the arrows 60, the electric motors 47 and 51 are operated in such a direction whereby the cables 45 and 49 will draw the carriage members comprising the posts 35, wheels 39, etc, along through the channels 40 in the proper direction which will thereby swing the spouts to any angle desired, and so that the bottom of the spout portion 24- Will be positioned at any desired opening 12. The spout 24 can be lowered to compensate for the angle by means of the winch or reeling structure 25 so that the said bottom will be practically within or just above the opening. In other words, through this structure and by means of manipulating the motor switches properly, the spouts can be swung from one side to the other and can be stopped whenever desired at the proper opening. The various pulleys 46, 48, 50 and 52 provide stabilizing means whereby the carriages including the rollers 39 will be securely held in stabilized position wherever desired and since the cables are tied to either side of the posts 35, the spouts will be thus positioned at any desired angle. For swinging the spout outwardly to any angle desired, the arms 31 are merely changed in angularity by causing the motors to spread the carriages further apart or to draw the carriages closer together. In other words, if the electric motors are operated so as to draw the arms 31 together in the direction of the arrows 61, the spout will then be positioned at a greater angle from the vertical wall 10 and by operating the motors reversely, the angle of the spout from the wall will be decreased. Therefore, by virtue of this construction, the operator can position the lower end of the spout 24 at any location desired both laterally as well as longitudinally.

The operation of the mechanical winches 55 is obvious wherein the same results could be accomplished and it will be noted that the arms 31 can be operated individually with respect to each other as desired. It will now be noted that I have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention with further advantages being apparent.

Some changes my be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A loading device comprising a grain receiving structure, a lengthened spout piv-otally attached to said structure, means for swinging said spout longitudinally along said structure, and means for swinging said spout at an angle to said structure, including a track attached to said structure, arms pivotally attached to said spout, carriages adapted to roll in said track attached to said arms, movement of said carriages in unison providing longitudinal swinging movement of said spout, and means for causing divergence and convergence of said arms for swinging said spout to a lateral angle with respect to said structure.

2. The structure of claim 1 and wherein the means for causing said carriages to roll in said track comprises cables attached to said carriages, power means for operating said cables, selective positioning of said carriages in said track causing a varied angle between said arms for providing preselective angular lateral positioning of said spout with respect to said structure, an auxiliary spout member attached at the lower terminal of said spout for providing compensatory length to said spout at various positions 3. The structure of claim 2, and wherein said cables include stabilizing means for retaining said carriages in desired positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,791,371 2/1931 Onstad 193----3 1,814,618 7/1931 Carter 1933 3,019,879 2/1962 Wenschlag 19316 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LOADING DEVICE COMPRISING A GRAIN RECEIVING STRUCTURE, A LENGTHENED SPOUT PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID STRUCTURE, MEANS FOR SWINGING SAID SPOUT LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID STRUCTURE, AND MEANS FOR SWINGING SAID SPOUT AT AN ANGLE TO SAID STRUCTURE, INCLUDING A TRACK ATTACHED TO SAID STRUCTURE, ARMS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID SPOUT, CARRIAGES ADAPTED TO ROLL IN SAID TRACK ATTACHED TO SAID ARMS, MOVE- 